Pros
Early responsibility, insight into major public policy issues, and opportunities to undertake some interesting work (research, supporting ministers in the House of Commons and Lords etc).
Cons
I would advise anyone joining the Graduate Policy Adviser scheme to think carefully about joining HM Treasury. When I received my offer I was surprised and pleased to have passed the assessments and expected the role to be equally challenging yet was disappointed by the mundane and sometimes pointless work. My role was not strictly a policy adviser role. Hours were long and the effort I put into my work was not appreciated. My managers were not always fully supportive, micro-managed incessantly, and were often rude. When I tried to chase people to meet a deadline or suggest doing things differently I was made to feel as if I was undermining more senior colleagues - people at the Treasury are very territorial and 'gradist'. Training is abysmal and many graduates complained how useless it was. From conversations with other graduates, there were many grumblings about the Graduate Policy Adviser scheme overall. The Treasury is dominated by aloof, largely white middle class Oxbridge-eduated males; there is very little diversity at more senior levels.
